Last Updated: January 12, 2026
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Idris Elba talks the intensity of Hijack season 2’s underground thriller setting and his Apple TV collaboration
Last Updated: January 12, 2026
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Idris Elba is back for another high-stakes crisis, and this time the corporate negotiator is trading airplane seats for underground train cars.
As Hijack season 2 takes shape, Elba has opened up about moving the thriller into a tense underground setting that pushes both the story and its lead character into darker territory.
He’s also reflecting on his continued collaboration with Apple TV+, revealing how that creative partnership helped elevate the series beyond its high-stakes first season.
Here’s what Elba revealed about the heightened intensity of season two.
From Sky High to Underground
Season two of Hijack moves the action from 35,000 feet to beneath the streets of Berlin. The shift creates an entirely different kind of tension for Sam Nelson and viewers alike. The underground train setting represents more than just a location change for the Apple TV thriller.
The setting pushes Sam Nelson into territory he has never explored before on screen. Speaking with Deadline, Idris Elba emphasized the creative power behind letting his character get physically and emotionally lost underneath the city.
The decision to move from plane to train was both creative and practical for the production team. Elba pointed out that you can only hijack a method of transport, not a building, making the train setting a logical choice.
The claustrophobic environment delivers exactly the kind of intense, tactile pressure the creators were aiming for in this sophomore season. Sam Nelson is at the heart of the crisis on board, where one wrong decision could spell disaster for everyone.
Sam Nelson Stripped Down
This season presents a very different Sam Nelson from the confident negotiator viewers met in season one. Gone are the boardroom strategies and careful manipulations that made him so effective during the airplane hijacking.
Elba described his character as “a broken man” rather than the typical leading man viewers expect from his roles. He emphasized that “leading characters often have a lot of real estate to hold up.” Sam Nelson offers something refreshingly different from characters like Detective John Luther or Stringer Bell from The Wire.
The vulnerability built into Sam’s character was intentional from the very beginning of the series conception. Elba wanted to portray an ordinary person in an extraordinary action setting who would make mistakes along the way.
He steered clear of creating another action hero who would simply punch his way out of danger. The result is a character study wrapped inside a thriller, examining what regular people might actually do under extreme pressure. The co-creator provided insight into Sam’s mental state as season two begins for viewers.
The Apple TV Partnership
Hijack season one was developed and produced through Elba’s first look deal with Apple via his production house Green Door. The deal was originally signed in July 2020 but ended in 2023 after producing the hit thriller series.
Elba shared his views on first-look deals after his experience working with the streaming giant. He said, “There are really good, healthy examples of putting together a commitment of creator and studio.” He certainly felt satisfied with how the partnership unfolded and the quality product they created together.
However, Elba noted that first-look deals don’t work for everything in today’s creative landscape. He explained that “In this day and age, creation can take many forms,” beyond traditional studio arrangements. He added, “In a healthy deal, a first-look agreement provides a really great space to be.”
The guaranteed distribution opportunity and support for making quality content made the deal valuable for Elba. He felt really lucky to have those resources backing his creative vision for the project from the start.
The Creative Challenge of Extended Single Settings
Filming Hijack presented unique creative and logistical challenges that most productions never face in their entire run. The first season took place mostly on a plane in real time across seven episodes, with Elba’s character spending the entire duration aboard the flight.
Speaking at a London press conference, Elba joked, “It felt like we were flying to Mars” due to filming time. The production spent 120 days filming inside the confined airplane set. The fight scenes required special choreography within the cramped space of an aircraft cabin filled with passengers and crew.
The action sequences weren’t easy to maneuver around when characters were frightened of getting shot. The constant threat of the plane going down added psychological weight to every physical movement and confrontation. All this environmental pressure was part of the design and action.
Season two brings similar constraints but with the added complexity of an underground train system. Every decision about movement and staging must account for the physical reality of being trapped underground. The real-time format adds another layer of difficulty for writers, directors, and actors to navigate successfully.
Critical Acclaim and Audience Response
The first season of Hijack established itself as one of the top dramas on Apple TV shortly after its worldwide debut. The series received wide acclaim from both critics and fans. The show landed on the Nielsen Streaming Originals Top 10 list during its initial run.
Critics praised the series as a shot of pure adrenaline that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Elba received particular praise for his commanding performance as the leading man navigating impossible choices under pressure. His portrayal earned him an Emmy nomination.
Elba’s passion for the craft shines through in every interview about the show’s production and creative process. Between navigating complex scenes and collaborating with director Jim Field Smith, he gained newfound appreciation for precision in thriller filmmaking.
Season two promises to be an evolution of everything that worked in season one, with added complexity. Apple TV has crafted a thriller designed to keep audiences guessing and invested throughout. The premiere on January 14, 2026, will reveal whether the creative gamble of changing settings pays off.
TL;DR
- Hijack season 2 premieres January 14, 2026, on Apple TV with eight episodes releasing weekly through March 4.
- The action moves from an airplane to a Berlin underground train, creating new claustrophobic tension.
- Sam Nelson is stripped of his usual strategies, relying on instinct and empathy rather than boardroom tactics.
- Elba characterizes his character as a broken man searching for answers after season one’s trauma.
- Hijack season one was developed through Elba’s first-look deal with Apple via Green Door Pictures.
- Elba views the partnership as a healthy example of creator and studio commitment working successfully.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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Bee DeloresAuthor
Bee DeloresLover of hiking, biking, horror movies, cats and camping. Writer at Wide Open Country, Holler and Nashville Gab.
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